SUMMERVILLE, S.C. --­ The Tennessee Lady Vol softball squad
improved its overall
record to 19-3 with a commanding 11-0, five-inning victory over the Furman
Lady Paladins in Pool A action at the Charleston Southern Tournament in
Summerville, S.C. Sophomore hurler Monica Abbott allowed three hits and
struck out nine in five innings of work while junior third baseman Kristi
Durant came up just a triple short of hitting for the cycle with a single,
double and a two-run home run. Sophomore shortstop Lindsay Schutzler (2-4,
run scored), rookie catcher Shannon Doepking (2-2, run scored) and freshman
first baseman Tonya Callahan (2-2, run scored) each registered two
runs-batted-in during the triumph.

"I was pleased with the way we came out playing aggressively and scored in the
first inning," said Lady Vol Co-Head Coach Karen Weekly. "We got a lot of
hitting out of people we needed to step up and swing the bats better. We
still need to learn to play every inning and perform to our best in all phases
of every game.

Tennessee wasted no time in jumping on Furman pitcher Jessica Mathis (5 IP, 14
H, 11 R, 9 ER, 4 K) by pushing three runs across the plate in the first
inning. As she has done so many times this season, Schutzler reached on a
lead-off single and promptly swiped second for her team-best 12th theft of the
campaign. After a sacrifice bunt from junior centerfielder Sarah Fekete
advanced the UT runner to third, Durant came through with her first hit of the
game by singling in Schutzler with the game's initial run. Sophomore second
baseman Ashley Cline delivered a base knock through the left side to place
runners at first and second with one down and set the stage for Doepking who
laced a hit to right for an RBI. After a fielder's choice by junior utility
player Katherine Card, Callahan delivered a sacrifice fly to right field for a
3-0 Lady Vol lead.

In the second a fielding error on a bunt by Furman third baseman Lyndy Wilcox
came back to haunt the Lady Paladins as Durant blasted a two-run home run to
right field to plate sophomore designated player India Chiles.

After Abbott (5 IP, 3 H, 9 K) struck out two of her nine batters in the bottom
of the second, Tennessee added on to its lead with two more runs in the top of
the third. Three consecutive singles by Card, Doepking and Callahan loaded
the bases for pinch-hitter Brittany Bessho. She hit an RBI groundball to
second base to plate Card for a 6-0 advantage. Schutzler delivered again with
two outs in the inning with a two-run base hit to center to improve the lead
to 8-0.

The advantage ballooned to 11 runs in the fourth as UT scored three more times
on a sacrifice fly by Doepking, a Callahan single up the middle and a Stacey
Jennings base hit through the left side. Overall, the Tennessee freshmen
delivered a 5-for-8 effort with four RBI in the match up against Furman.

The No. 5 Lady Vols will continue Pool A play at the Charleston Southern
Tournament on Sat., Mar. 5, in bracket playoffs at either 6:30 or 8:30 p.m.
UT's opponent and official game time are still to be determined by an
afternoon slate of contests. Check into utladyvols.com or call the Lady Vol
Hotline at 865-974-8700 (#6) for updates and postgame stories.